Posted: April 09, 1999 at 07:20:57: by Stephen Geard
: Indeed. But in MORGOTH'S RING Tolkien explains how they actually lost a part of their strength or spirit in reproducing, so they would normally have at most only four or so children. Feanor and Nerdanel were highly remarkable for producing seven sons.Curious. I missed that bit. Yet, in the same volume Finwë (after losing Míriel) says: "Alone among the Eldar I have no wife, and must hope for no sons, save one, and no daughter. Whereas Ingwë and Olwë beget many children in the bliss of Aman." (p.258) I took that to mean that large families were the norm in Valinor (after all Finwë actually had six, if we count the three girls out of Indis). On the other matter: : In the later ages they had fewer children, though Tolkien doesn't specify how much later or what the average was ... : There should be SOME reason for why the Elves didn't increase their numbers throughout the Third Age ... Do you risk meeting me halfway, Michael?
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